February 26/05 8:42 am - Message From the Minister for Sport

Posted by Editor on 02/26/05

Message From Minister of State (Sport)

On Wednesday, February 23, 2005, a milestone was reached for the Canadian sport system and in particular for the pursuit of sporting excellence and enhancing the participation of Canadians in sport. I am proud to take this opportunity to confirm that in the 2005 Federal Budget, significant increase in the Canadian sport system was provided to bring the total ongoing funding for sport to an all-time high of $140 million annually.

Together with the sport community, we will be able to leverage these funds to continue to support quality programs and activities for Canadians, from the local level to the international stage. This investment demonstrates the Government of Canada's strong commitment to sport and provides new momentum for those athletes with the dream and potential to excel at home and internationally.

New funds will help deliver on the collective vision of the Canadian Sport Policy endorsed by all jurisdictions in 2002, which presents a leading-edge sport system from the playground to the podium. These investments will focus on winter and summer sport excellence to enhance Canada's ability to realize the performance potential of its athletes and will build capacity in the sport system to bring lasting significant benefits to Canada. These funds will allow us to further advance the priorities and objectives of the Canadian Sport Policy to pursue social development through sport at home and abroad.

This Federal Budget also recognizes the positive contribution that an active lifestyle can have on the health of the nation. This is why additional investments are being made to continue to work with key partners to strengthen participation in sport among Canadians. Sport plays an important role in the lives of many Canadians and we have a role to play with our youth to continue to recognize the place of sport in our personal development and well-being.

Our approach will focus on addressing areas of need within the sport system including, direct support to athletes, coaching, national team programming, sport science and research, equipment and training and competition needs. It will enable us to build toward success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games leading to and following the Vancouver-Whistler 2010 Games. Both the pursuit of excellence and the promotion of sport participation will enable Canada to capitalize on our role as a host country.

In 2010, the eyes of the world will be on Canada as Vancouver and Whistler host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Games will inspire Canadian pride and achievement across the country. As part of the Government of Canada's ongoing commitment to the Games, Budget 2005 also provides an additional $87 million over seven years, including an additional $20 million for the Paralympic Games, to ensure that Canada is ready when the world comes to visit in 2010. This funding is over and above the Government of Canada's existing commitment of over $410 million to help build the Games' sport and event venues, as well as to provide the essential services required for such an event, such as policing and security.

I look forward to our continued collaboration in making this vision a reality.